by Damodara Rao Dasu

In this keertana, Tyagaraja enlightens us the importance of a word and its appropriate meaning. He quotes several words which have different meanings. "Unless one chooses the relevant meaning, real devotion is not possible." he adds.

P	telisi rAma chintana tO namamu seyavE, oh manasA ||	Know the appropriate meaning and chant the name of Rama and be absorbed in Rama's qualities.
AP	talapu lanni nilipi nimisha maina tAraka roopuni nija tatvamulanu ||	Concentrate and know the real nature of Rama at least for a minute.
C	rAmA yana chapalAkshula pEru kAmAdula pOru vAru veeru rAmAyana brahmamunaku pEru A mAnava jananartulu teeru ||	The word Rama also means woman. Those who take this meaning get lost in thoughts of Women. Rama means Brahman (Supreme being). Those who take this meaning have their prayers answered.
C	arkamanuchu jillEDU taru pEru markaTa buddhu leTlu teeru arkuDanuchu bhaskarunaku pEru ku tarkamanE andhakAramu teeru ||	Arka also means a poisonous tree. Fickle minded people take this meaning. Arka means Sun. Meditating upon SUN dispels darkness of irrationality.
C	aja manuchunu mEshamunaku pEru nija kOrika lEla geeDEru ajuDani vAgeeswarunaku pEru vijayamu kalgunu tyAgarAjunutuni ||	Aja means a goat. Also it means Brahma. Those who take this meaning are bestowed victory. Victory to the lord of Tyagaraja.

Tyagaraja in this Kruti exposes people whose prayers are showy without sincerity. He adds that they also try to make money by their dubious appearances.

P	teliya lEru rAma bhakti mArgamu nu ||	Some people roam about here and there and talk much about devotion. But they are ignorant of the real path of devotion to Rama
AP	ila nantaTA tiruguchu kaluvarinchErE gAni ||	They only roam about here and there and dream about devotion.
C	vEga lEchi neeta muNigi bhooti poosi vELLa nenchi veliki SlA gha neeyulai bAga paika mArjana lOlu lai rEgAni tyAga rAja vinuta ||	They wake up early, bathe, smear Vibhooti (sacred ash), chant mantras, and get admiration of all. But their mind is only on making money. Such people do not know the real path of devotion. Oh Lord of Tyagaraja.

In this keertana Tyagaraja prays to Rama to remove his envy which is an obstruction in achieving his ambitions. He gives various examples saying that envy is an impediment in achieving one's own aims.

P	tera teeyaga rAdA lOni tirupathi venkaTa ramaNa machchramanu ||	Oh Tirupathi Venkata Ramana, remove the curtain of envy in me which is obstructing my sight.
AP	parama purusha dharmAdi mOkshamula pAra dOluchunnadi nAlOni ||	This envy is driving away holiness, righteousness and salvation from me.
C	iravondaga bhujiyinchu samayamuna eega tagulu reeti yunnadi hari dhyAnamu sEyu vELa chittamu antyaju vADaku bOyi naTlunnadi ||	It is like a fly colgging the throat while eating. It is like the mind flying to bad places while meditating on Hari.
C	matsyamu Akali goni gAlamu chE magna maina reeti yunnadi achchamaina deepa sannidhi ni maru giDa baDi cherachi naTlu nnadi ||	It is like a hungry fish getting caught by an angler's hook. It is like darkness near the base of a lamp.
C	vAgu rayani teliyaka mruga gaNamulu vachchi tagulu reeti yunnadi vEgame nee matamu nanu sarinchina tyAgarAjanuta mada matsara manu ||	It is like an innocent deer getting trapped in a pit. Soon I have followed your path. Oh Lord of Tyagaraja, Let the curtain of envy be removed.

In this kruti Tyagaraja explains about the sweet relationship between a devotee and the God. He says that God comes down to a devotee like a mother comes to her child and illustrates this point with some more examples.

P	tana yuni brOva janani vachchunO talli vadda bAluDu bOnO ||	Does a mother come to her child to protect or does her child go to mother for protection?
AP	ina kulOttamA ee rahasyamunu yerigimpumu mOmunu ganipimpumu ||	Oh the greatest person of Inakula dynasty, please show your face and reveal the secret.
C	vatsamu venTa dhEnuvu chanunO vAridamula gani pairulu chanunO matsya kantiki viTuDu veDalunO mahini tyAga rAja vinuta rammu delpumu||	Does a cow go after her calf? Do the plantations run for clouds? Does a lover follow his beloved lady? Oh Lord of Tyagaraja, come and reveal the answers.